News: Press Releases & Statements
JONES’ AMENDMENT ADOPTED TO MAKE ABSENTEE VOTING EASIER FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL
11.16.09 | Contact: Sarah Scalese, 617-722-2100
BOSTON—An amendment, offered by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr., to make absentee voting easier for military personnel was adopted today in the House.
Jones’ amendment expands the use of federal write-in absentee ballots, currently in use for federal elections, to all elections. Administered by the Federal Voting Assistance Program, these ballots are used to ensure that overseas absentee ballots are cast and received.
Specifically, this ballot ensures that service men and women overseas received a federally-regulated absentee ballot online and to cast their vote electronically, via fax or email, or through traditional mail.
“This is a small, yet meaningful, step we can take to ensure that our service members and their families are part of the election process,” said Representative Jones. “Our military men and women risk their lives every day, the least we can do for them is provide them with the opportunity to participate in elections back home.”
In instances where local election officials are not able to receive ballots by email, the Federal Voting Assistance Program will receive overseas ballots and transmit them by fax to local clerks.